UK Government to Criminalize Online Pornography Depicting Strangulation
In This Article
HIGHLIGHTS
- The UK government plans to criminalize online pornography depicting strangulation, making it a priority offence under the Online Safety Act.
- Amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill will require tech platforms to proactively remove such content or face fines up to £18 million from Ofcom.
- The legal time limit for victims of intimate image abuse to report incidents will be extended from six months to three years.
- The initiative follows a review by Baroness Gabby Bertin, highlighting the normalization of strangulation as a sexual norm among young people.
- Experts warn that strangulation is a serious form of violence, often linked to domestic abuse, and poses significant risks to cognitive health.
In a decisive move to combat violence against women and girls, the UK government has announced plans to criminalize online pornography that depicts strangulation or suffocation. This initiative, part of amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, aims to address the normalization of such acts as a sexual norm, particularly among young people.
Legislative Measures and Enforcement
Under the proposed amendments, both the possession and publication of pornographic content featuring strangulation will become criminal offences. This change will categorize such material as a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, aligning it with content related to child sexual abuse and terrorism. Technology platforms will be mandated to proactively detect and remove such material, with non-compliance resulting in fines up to £18 million from media regulator Ofcom.
Extending Support for Victims
In a related amendment, the government will extend the legal time limit for victims of intimate image abuse to report incidents from six months to three years. This change aims to dismantle barriers that victims face in accessing justice, providing them with more time to come forward.
Expert Opinions and Concerns
The move follows a review led by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin, which highlighted the prevalence of strangulation in mainstream porn sites and its impact on young people's perceptions of sexual norms. Bernie Ryan, chief executive of the Institute for Addressing Strangulation, emphasized the dangers of portraying strangulation in pornography, noting its potential to send harmful messages about intimate relationships. Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, described the amendments as a vital step towards tackling the normalization of violence in online content.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite widespread support, some campaigners remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the proposed laws. Fiona Mackenzie, founder of We Can't Consent To This, pointed out that existing laws against extreme porn are often not enforced, raising concerns about the practical implementation of the new measures.
WHAT THIS MIGHT MEAN
The criminalization of strangulation in pornography marks a significant step in the UK’s efforts to combat online violence against women. If effectively enforced, this legislation could lead to a safer online environment, particularly for young users who are vulnerable to harmful content. However, the success of these measures will largely depend on the ability of tech platforms to implement robust detection and removal systems. As the amendments progress through Parliament, further discussions may focus on ensuring that existing laws are enforced and that new regulations are practical and effective. Experts suggest that continued monitoring and adaptation of these laws will be crucial in addressing the evolving landscape of online content and its impact on societal norms.
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UK Government to Criminalize Online Pornography Depicting Strangulation
In This Article
Sofia Romano| Published HIGHLIGHTS
- The UK government plans to criminalize online pornography depicting strangulation, making it a priority offence under the Online Safety Act.
- Amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill will require tech platforms to proactively remove such content or face fines up to £18 million from Ofcom.
- The legal time limit for victims of intimate image abuse to report incidents will be extended from six months to three years.
- The initiative follows a review by Baroness Gabby Bertin, highlighting the normalization of strangulation as a sexual norm among young people.
- Experts warn that strangulation is a serious form of violence, often linked to domestic abuse, and poses significant risks to cognitive health.
In a decisive move to combat violence against women and girls, the UK government has announced plans to criminalize online pornography that depicts strangulation or suffocation. This initiative, part of amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill, aims to address the normalization of such acts as a sexual norm, particularly among young people.
Legislative Measures and Enforcement
Under the proposed amendments, both the possession and publication of pornographic content featuring strangulation will become criminal offences. This change will categorize such material as a priority offence under the Online Safety Act, aligning it with content related to child sexual abuse and terrorism. Technology platforms will be mandated to proactively detect and remove such material, with non-compliance resulting in fines up to £18 million from media regulator Ofcom.
Extending Support for Victims
In a related amendment, the government will extend the legal time limit for victims of intimate image abuse to report incidents from six months to three years. This change aims to dismantle barriers that victims face in accessing justice, providing them with more time to come forward.
Expert Opinions and Concerns
The move follows a review led by Conservative peer Baroness Gabby Bertin, which highlighted the prevalence of strangulation in mainstream porn sites and its impact on young people's perceptions of sexual norms. Bernie Ryan, chief executive of the Institute for Addressing Strangulation, emphasized the dangers of portraying strangulation in pornography, noting its potential to send harmful messages about intimate relationships. Andrea Simon, director of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, described the amendments as a vital step towards tackling the normalization of violence in online content.
Challenges and Criticisms
Despite widespread support, some campaigners remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the proposed laws. Fiona Mackenzie, founder of We Can't Consent To This, pointed out that existing laws against extreme porn are often not enforced, raising concerns about the practical implementation of the new measures.
WHAT THIS MIGHT MEAN
The criminalization of strangulation in pornography marks a significant step in the UK’s efforts to combat online violence against women. If effectively enforced, this legislation could lead to a safer online environment, particularly for young users who are vulnerable to harmful content. However, the success of these measures will largely depend on the ability of tech platforms to implement robust detection and removal systems. As the amendments progress through Parliament, further discussions may focus on ensuring that existing laws are enforced and that new regulations are practical and effective. Experts suggest that continued monitoring and adaptation of these laws will be crucial in addressing the evolving landscape of online content and its impact on societal norms.
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